Nature Spirituality for Today

Archive for June, 2013

The Salt Lake Pagan Society gives thanks to the Great Cosmic Goddess and God this day for the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). SLPS is a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights and was thrilled today to hear the decision by the Supreme Court. Goddess Bless This Great Nation!

While in the middle of a displacement due to the Beehive Tea Room being closed the month of June, Witches’ Tea for Sunday, June 30, 2013 will be held at Bad Ass Coffee. Please join us there at 11am. If you’re taking public transit, it is 3500 s on State and the Millcreek Trax Stop. Hope to see you all there!

After three years of faithful service, Ember Fire was released from her duties as Advertising Director of the society on June 9, 2013. “I am sad to see her go, but happy at the same time. She had years of experience and now we have the opportunity to have another artist gain experience in the society” said President Muad’Dib

Ms. Fire became the advertising director on June 24, 2011. She designed beautiful work for most of the sabbats, special events, banners and other occasions. Her work as a mix of photography and hand drawn style. She often incorporated themes of the seasons with suns, moon, stars, and animals. SLPS thanks her and wishes her well in life!

Thanks to all who attended and made Midsummer 2013 a wonderful celebration and feast! The celebrations took place on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 6pm and this year included a new Hammer of Thor rite.

The traditional battle between the Oak and Holly kings, with the Holly King victorious and ruling the next six months of the year took place as the center point of the ritual. The Oak King was played by SLSP President Muad’Dib and the Holly King by SLSP Advertising Director Lunar Oak Spirit. They had a mock battle and the Oak King relented control of the year to the Holly King till Yule, when the Sun will return again to increase the light on the Earth.

A druid Midsummer rite by SLPS President Muad’Dib where he called on the blessings of the God Beli, a midsummer Welch fire God, for all the members.

Oberon, King of the fairies was seen blessing the union of the Holly King and Queen. He also worked other faery magic as he danced around the circle!

Part of the magical workings on Midsummer also included power moon magic from the “super moon” that was passing over the Earth at the time. The workings including banishing bad habits in the Midsummer fire, traveling to meet the Holly King with his spouses and dancing to the song “Midsummer” by Heather Alexander.

Feastings after the ritual included tri-tip steak, chicken, hamburgers, ribs, corn on the cob and potato salad. A special homemade chocolate and coconut cream frosting cake was made by SLPS member Cheyanne Opheikens in honor of Lunar Oak Spirit’s late birthday. Delicious! Check out the photos below.

The Beehive Tea Room has unexpected shutout down for the month of June! SLPS will have to find a new temporary or even permanent location at which to meet. The big question now is that is it time to find a new meeting place all together?! Questions to be answered at the next meeting. Stay updated through the blog about the new location!

The wheel has turned again and Midsummer has come upon us. Also know as Litha and Alban Heruin to the Druids, this is the time of greatest light upon the earth. A Solar holiday, the Oak and Holly Kings come together and battle each other for rule of the next six months. The Oak king has reigned gracefully and with love, giving the Earth ever greater and increasing light since the return of the King at Yule. Now the nights will lengthen and return us to the dark times at Mabon in a few months. Please join in the celebrations and feasting in honor of the new Holly King on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 6pm! Please bring a substantial dish to the feasting. Contact Muad’Dib for details 801 709 4632

A small group of SLPS members gathered on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 8pm for the June New Moon Ritual. Starting off with the traditional circles that are cast and a new one by Thor’s Hammer, the members felt the power of the magic immediately. After cleansing, anointings and blessings. The new Awen cauldron custom made for Druid President Muad’Dib was broken in at this ritual as well as the new stone mortal and pestle. Cactus, rose and sun flower petals were among the many ground up for the spell workings done.

President Muad’Dib took the members to meet Mjolnir, Thor’s Blessed Hammer. Iyata Bond then took everyone on a guided journey through their heart chakras before closing the ritual. Until the next moon!

SLPS is very excited to have Lunar Oak Spirit come aboard as the new Advertising Director. Lunar Oak Spirit was appointed on June 9, 2013 to the position last month after the release of Ember Fire. He gracefully accepted the office and pledge to serve it to his fullest capacity. “I am so honored and shocked to be asked to do this. I was designing a few things here and there, but never expected to be asked to do be an officer in the society. I’ll do my best!”

Mr. Spirit is the artist who designed the banner that was recently used in the Utah Pride Festival March on June 2… also Mr. Spirit’s birthday! His work is of a different style than Ms. Fire’s and often utilizes real imagery and photographs capture from nature and around the world. “I really enjoy the realism he uses in her work and he art is always stunning” said President Muad’Dib. SLPS wishes him luck in his new office!

What a busy weekend! SLPS Participated in the Utah Pride Festival events on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Things kicked off with the Utah Pride Interfaith Coalition‘s Interfaith Service for healing on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 7pm. The service was one of helping people to gain peace and understand with the divine. The Theme “Sacred Embraces Real” emphasized the Utah Pride Festival’s Theme “Gotta Be Real”. Saturday, June 1,2013 Continued the interfaith with the interfaith Rally and March from First United Methodist Church in downtown Salt Lake City on 200 E 200 S to the Festival at 200 E and 400 S. Along the way, the march joined up with the Transgender March and the Dyke March.

After the march, SLPS opened the tent for business with Free Tarot Readings. Special mermaid readings were available from MerQueen Lei Loni Tilley, Founder and Queen of the Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake. Witch’s Runes were also being read by Azetta, Seedling of the Blue Dragon. President Muad’Dib used his Deviant Moon Tarot, Piggy had the Rider-Waite, Lunar Oak Spirit had the Shamanic Tarot, and Woman Between the Wolves was on the Robin Wood Tarot.

Sunday, June 2, 2013 brought the Utah Pride Festival Parade at 10 am. SLPS marched in robes and hates with the Utah Pride Interfaith section. After the exhausting march down 200 S, SLPS returned and did more free readings for people at the festival. It is estimated that 300 people stopped by the booth and had their cards, cartouche or runes read. What a great way to give service to the LGBT community! SLPS is excited to return next year for a fourth year!

Utah Pride Festival Booth, left side Savanna Cunningham (l in red) and Danielle Donaldson, right side front to back: Azetta Seedling of the Blue Dragon, Callista Dreamwalker and Woman Between the Wolves, Sunday, June 2, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Recently, a prospective member came to the society seeking membership. While this person attended meetings and functions, they never formally joined. After a few months, this individual stirred up trouble among some of the more impressionable members, and fooled them into causing a rift in the society. A meeting was held on Friday, May 24, 2013 in the Sugarhouse Park, to discuss the future of the members of the society and work out the issues in a group setting. A special talking stick as purchased for the occasion to ensure that members take turns speaking. Heated opinions, critiques, and passionate feelings were shared. It was decided that the troll would be banned, and several members would be released. Several also chose to leave, leaving the Society fewer in numbers, but also healthier as those who stayed are those who were serious about Work, instead of just socializing. We wish those who left and were released well in life and that they find other groups in which to participate.